Self locking nut, washer, and the like



April 5, 1932. J- E col-As 1,852,919

SELF LOCKING NUT, WASHER, AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 30, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 1 April 5, 1932. J COLAS 1,852,919

SELF LOCKING NUT, WASHER, AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 30, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet '2 Amen rv/Z Patented Apr. '5, 1932 JOSEPH ERNEST COLAS, OFPARIS,FRANCE SELF LOCKING NUT, WASHER, AND THE LIKE Original applicationfiled January 30, 1929, Serial No. 336,197, and in France February 14,1928. Divided and this application filed August 17, 1931.

'My invention relates to improvements in self-locking nuts, washers, andthe like of the split-type i. e. in which the piece of work made ofresilient material is provided with a substantially radial slot so thatit can be expanded'at will by the insertion into said slot of a suitabletool, put in place into the bolt, and then allowed to collapse by theremoval of said tool. This application is a divim sion of my copendingapplication, Serial Number 336,197, filed January 30, 1929.

The object of my invention is essentially to devise a split ring nutlock, nut, or washer of the aforesaid type which can be easily expandedin practice. Great difficulties have been experienced in devisingconvenient means for expanding such a ring so as to increase itsdiameter to allow it to be engaged upon ordisengaged from the bolt;these difficulties are due for a part to the fact that the efficiency ofthe device depends on the pressure exerted by the resilient ringupon thebolt; as the pressure is proportional to the square root of the workperformed in expanding the ring, it is eminently desirable to exert asgreat a power as possible to expand the ring to the required diameter soas to provide for a gripping engagement of the ring upon the bolt whenthe expanding mem- 3 ber is released, and this must be accomplished bymeans of a quite cumberless device not increasing the bulk of the ringor nut and further adapted to be operated and removed in any caseappearing in practice, whatever H may be the position of the lockingring.

A convenient .tool already proposed for this purpose is a rod having anoval shaped part adapted to be inserted into the slot so that when it isturned therein it spreads apart both lips of said slot. But such a toolis liable to very easily jump out of the slot while being turned andfurther does not securely hold the nut expanded while the lat ter isbeing screwed home, and in fact such 5 a tool can not be used inpractice.

My invention aims to remove this drawback and to enable the practicaluse of the aforesaid expanding tool.

In the accompanying drawings which are 0 given solely by way of example:

Serial No. 557,707.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a-nut according to the inventionprovided with its expanding device, shown in the clamping position.

Fig. 2 is an horizontal section on the line A-A of Figure 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 correspond respectively to Figures 1 and 2, but with thenut in the released position.

In the form of construction herein represented, the nut l, which mayhave any suitable form, either round, hexagonal" or other, and may alsohave any suitable thickness, since the said nut may be used as anordinary nut or as a lock nut, is provided with a radial slot 2. Thesaid slot has a local increase in section for thc insertion therein ofthe expanding tool and narrows both inwardly and outwardly in order tohold in place said tool and to prevent it from escaping. The said nutconsists of a metal or any suitable resilient material;

Into the said slot 2 may be inserted the end 3 of a rod or key 4, whichend has an oval shape and thus forms a cam. The long axis of the camsection somewhat exceeds the width of the slot. The cam 3 is connectedto the main body of the rod 4 by a shoulder 5. At the other end of thesaid rod is a square part 6 upon which may be engaged a suitable wrenchor the like.

The operation is as follows:

To release the nut 1, the said cam 3 of the rod 4 is inserted into theslot 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The shoulder 5 bears upon the upperface of the nut. It will then suffice to engage a small wrench upon thesquare part 6 and to exercise an eifort upon the said wrench by turningit for instance in the clockwise direction in order to widen the slot bymeans of the cam 3, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The nut 1, whosediameter is thus increased, may then be turned readily upon itscorresponding bolt or the like.

Owing to the peculiar shape given to the slot the tool is effectivelypreventedfrom' jumping outwardly while being turned and can be devisedto exert a very powerful expanding action.

The blocking operation is effected in an analogous manner. In the caseof a threaded nut, this latter is screwed into place in the usualmanner, with the cam engaged in its slot sothat the nut will be loose onthe threaded rod during this operation. WVhen the nut has been thusplaced in position, it

is held against rotation by the wrench which i was used to screw it, andthe small Wrench is engaged upon the square end 6 of the said rod. Thiswrench is turned through degrees, in the opposite direction to thepreceding, so as to bring the large axis of the cam in the direction ofthe axis of the bolt. During this latter operation, the nut willgradually come together, and will press tightly upon its rod.

It will be observed that the expanding device occupies no additionalspace, and that it may be used in all cases in which a nut is to bescrewed upon a threaded rod whether the nut is embedded or is in theimmediate vicinity of a wall which only offers passage to a wrench. Thecam which is placed in position permits the loosening of the nut withoutrequiring any increase of the free space necessary for" the passage ofthe nut alone when it is unscrewed.

The said self locking nut is of a very simple construction, and can bereadily trimmed; it is inexpensive, strong and substantial, and can thusbe manufactured with great facility.

The same method can be employed to secure a smooth washer upon a smoothrod.

Obviously, the said invention is not limited to the form of corstructionherein described and represented, which is given solely by way ofexample.

In this manner, the said cam may be terminated by an enlarged parthaving a set 12f lzloles for the insertion of a spindle of any Havingnow described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

A self locking resilient radially split nut adapted to be expanded byturning within the split a substantially oval shaped expanding memberwhich is adapted to be introduced into the split longitudinally of thenut, wherein the substantiall radial split is given such a shape as tover 1 wall of the nut a housing narrowed at 0th its outward and inwardends.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s eeification.

4 JO EPH ERNEST COLAS.

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